Fourth Nephi

(All of my own thoughts are in blue ? red type 7/20 orange 7/21 Brown 2022 -22) 

                                               FOURTH NEPHI
                                   THE BOOK OF NEPHI
                                 WHO IS THE SON OF NEPHI—
                       ONE OF THE DISCIPLES OF JESUS CHRIST

CHAPTER 1I forget this book is only 1 chapter long, but covers 300 years!

The Nephites and the Lamanites are all converted unto the Lord—They have all things in common, work miracles, and prosper in the land—After two centuries, divisions, evils, false churches, and persecutions arise—After three hundred years, both the Nephites and the Lamanites are wicked—Ammaron hides up the sacred records. About A.D. 35–321. 

  1 And it came to pass that the thirty and fourth year passed away, and also the thirty and fifth, and behold the disciples of Jesus had formed a "a" and not "the"? church of Christ in all the lands round about. And as many as did come unto them, and did truly repent of their sins, were ^abaptized in the name of Jesus; and they did also receive the Holy Ghost. I know this sounds like we are told at our baptism "receive the Holy Ghost", but I don't think most of us receive it at that moment. Did these people? If so...how/why?
  2 And it came to pass in the thirty and sixth year, 2 years later the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, How many people are we talking about here? The main point is that it was ALL... but how many were killed in all the destruction? Were only the more righteous spared so it was easier to convert everyone? Or did the destruction put a righteous fear of God in their souls? Or was it the powerful preaching of the 12 disciples? and there were no contentions and disputations among them, and every man did deal justly one with another. Earlier, we saw the 3 Nephites were thrown in prison and pits and fire, so the conversion was not immediate after Christ, but it looks like here that eventually ALL were converted. I just went back and re-read that, and Mormon was writing a commentary after the fact, meaning it wasn't in the current time frame that happened. The rest of this chapter confirms that.
  3 And they had ^aall things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly ^bgift. The footnote just goes to "Gifts of God; gifts" but what is the heavenly gift? What if the heavenly gift is the gift of knowledge and power that changes your heart so you can be believing and live in a Zion way. I think we are going to have to be given this heavenly gift before/when He comes as well...We cannot underestimate the importance of their caring for each other. I read that in the apocryphal book of Jasher, it says Sodom and Gomorrah was destroyed not just for sins of morality, but even more so because they refused to care for the poor and would cover their trees so the birds could not eat the fruit off them!
  4 And it came to pass that the thirty and seventh year passed away also, and there still continued to be ^apeace in the land.
  5 And there were great and marvelous works wrought by the disciples of Jesus, insomuch that they did ^aheal the sick, and ^braise the dead, and cause the lame to walk, and the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear; and all manner of ^cmiracles did they work among the children of men; and in nothing did they work miracles save it were in the name of Jesus. Jesus said "these signs" would follow them that believe! I assume this is not freely done in our day due to our own lack of righteousness, otherwise God would raise up disciples with this kind of power to bless us. Notice that living in peace did not mean there was no sickness, death, or infirmities...unless this healing took place at their conversion.
  6 And thus did the thirty and eighth year pass away, and also the thirty and ninth, and forty and first, and the forty and second, yea, even until forty and nine years had passed away, and also the fifty and first, and the fifty and second; yea, and even until fifty and nine years had passed away.
  7 And the Lord did prosper them exceedingly in the land; yea, insomuch that they did build cities again where there had been cities burned.
  8 Yea, even that great ^acity Zarahemla did they cause to be built again.
  9 But there were many cities which had been ^asunk, and waters came up in the stead thereof; therefore these cities could not be renewed. There should be evidence of this somewhere under the waters...
 10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly ^afair and delightsome people. The footnote on “fair” leads to references to literal and spiritual whiteness. If all were converted and their skin was white, did the DNA no longer pass to children? If so, where is the skin tie to the Lamanites? Is it just from those who had left earlier in boats or left the lands around?
 11 And they were married, and given in marriage, and were blessed according to the multitude of the ^apromises which the Lord had made unto them. Again...the foot note just says "promises". What were these "multitude of promises"? One was that no one in that generation would be "lost".3 Nephi 27:30 And now, behold, my joy is great, even unto fulness, because of you, and also this generation; yea, and even the Father rejoiceth, and also all the holy angels, because of you and this generation; for none of them are lost. 31 Behold, I would that ye should understand; for I mean them who are now alive of this generation; and none of them are lost; and in them I have fulness of joy.
 12 And they did not walk any more after the ^aperformances and ^bordinances of the ^claw of Moses; but they did walk after the commandments which they had received from their Lord and their God, continuing in ^dfasting and prayer, and in meeting together oft both to pray and to hear the word of the Lord.
 13 And it came to pass that there was no contention among all the people, in all the land; but there were mighty miracles wrought among the disciples of Jesus. This is a restatement of the verses preceding it. Is this a promised pattern? obey, fast, pray, minister, no contention, miracles. What does this do to the common belief that people are sick and afflicted; blind, lame, or even die - to test us and try our faith and give us experience? Didn't these people need these tests and trials and experiences? The "test" in illness may be that it exposes our unbelief in something God has revealed and we have to find it. Instead we just accept the illness as a test of our faith that God is not punishing us for something but just testing our faith to trust Him in all things. Maybe we have an incorrect belief or tradition about these things. I love the book "Healing Begins with Sanctification of the Heart" where this Christian author believes it is never "God's will" that you are sick, but that we bring that upon ourselves through jealousy, envy and strife, and that if we would rid ourselves of that we would never be sick. I am going to include my notes on the book at the end of this Book of Mormon study. 
 14 And it came to pass that the seventy and first year passed away, and also the seventy and second year, yea, and in fine, till the seventy and ninth year had passed away; yea, even an hundred years had passed away, and the ^adisciples of Jesus, whom he had chosen, had all gone to the ^bparadise of God, save it were the ^cthree who should tarry; and there were other ^ddisciples ^eordained in their stead; and also many of that ^fgeneration had passed away.
 15 And it came to pass that there was no ^acontention in the land, because of the ^blove of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people. key: no contention because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts. How do we get the love of God to dwell in our hearts. dwell: "remain, exist, keep attention directed to" There is a worldly "religion" among the churches/people that loving our neighbor is the highest good we should strive for, but I believe that if we do not love God first and correctly, that we are not able to love our neighbor correctly. If you put the "cart before the horse" you won't get anywhere.
 16 And there were no ^aenvyings, nor ^bstrifes, nor ^ctumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of ^dlasciviousness; and surely there could not be a ^ehappier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.
 17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in ^aone, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.
 18 And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an hundred and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed away, and there was no contention in all the land. What does this say about the phrase that we came here to be tested and that our afflictions are necessary parts of mortality. These people had none of the afflictions we complain of and if they did they were fixed by the priesthood. Is it more, we're here to be tested, but it's possible to pass the test and live without these common afflictions? Are the afflictions a result of our not passing tests, instead of things we must suffer no matter how good we are? Are some of these blessings only possible if EVERYONE is converted? Seems like that is the key here. 
 19 And it came to pass that ^aNephi, he that kept this last record, (and he kept it upon the ^bplates of Nephi) died, and his son Amos kept it in his stead; and he kept it upon the plates of Nephi also.
 20 And he kept it eighty and four years, and there was still peace in the land, save it were a small part of the people who had revolted from the church and taken upon them the name of Lamanites; therefore there began to be Lamanites again in the land. So for almost two hundred years there was no Lamanites or Nephites. Did the "curse" fall from them and they all became white? I don't think so. The spiritual curse fell for sure. Did they intermarry? That would probably be fine, right? So when those who revolted called themselves Lamanites, were they all dark skinned? Wouldn't seem to be a requirement. It's possible that part of their revolt was picking up the "old" stories about their fathers, if it was a "Lamanite" thing...
 21 And it came to pass that ^aAmos died also, (and it was an hundred and ninety and four years from the coming of Christ) and his son Amos kept the record in his stead; and he also kept it upon the plates of Nephi; and it was also written in the book of Nephi, which is this book.
 22 And it came to pass that two hundred years had passed away; and the second generation had all passed away save it were a few. Prophecy fulfilled. No one in the current generation of when the promise was given fell away.
 23 And now I, Mormon, would that ye should know that the people had multiplied, insomuch that they were spread upon all the face of the land, and that they had become exceedingly ^arich, because of their prosperity in Christ. Notice it was "in" Christ.
 24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in ^apride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, seems to always be associated with pride... and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.
 25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more ^acommon among them.
 26 And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up ^achurches unto themselves to get ^bgain, and began to deny the true church of Christ. Is there any other way to build up a church for gain except taking the offerings as payment? Is there any way our churches are built up for gain? It would only be if the tithes and offerings were used solely for gain (which could be in dollars or popularity) Hope not...
 27 And it came to pass that when two hundred and ten years had passed away there were many churches in the land; yea, there were many churches which professed to know the Christ, and yet they did ^adeny the more parts of his gospel, insomuch that they did receive all manner of wickedness, and did administer that which was sacred unto him to whom it had been ^bforbidden because of unworthiness.  The sacrament?
 28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of ^aSatan who did get hold upon their ^bhearts.
 29 And again, there was another church which denied the Christ; and they did ^apersecute the true ^bchurch of Christ, because of their humility and their belief in Christ; and they did despise them because of the many miracles which were wrought among them. Notice the "true" church had many miracles among them. We need that restored....
 30 Therefore they did exercise power and authority over the disciples of Jesus who did tarry with them, I think these are the 3 Nephites. Though it said others were ordained after the original 9 died...They would surely know who they were and that they should have been dead if they truly were not God's servants and translated. How could they not believe? and they did cast them into ^aprison; but by the power of the word of God, which was in them, the prisons were rent in twain, and they went forth doing mighty miracles among them.
 31 Nevertheless, and notwithstanding all these miracles, the people did harden their hearts, and did seek to kill them, even as the Jews at Jerusalem sought to kill Jesus, according to his word. They didn't believe Jesus because of the miracles He performed either. Will this happen again with the same 3 Nephites and the end time servant? 
 32 And they did cast them into ^afurnaces of ^bfire, and they came forth receiving no harm.
 33 And they also cast them into ^adens of wild beasts, and they did play with the wild beasts even as a child with a lamb; and they did come forth from among them, receiving no harm. How could they not be convinced by all this? Sounds like the servant who is "marred" and healed follows this same pattern/type.
 34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and ^afalse prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did ^bsmite upon the people of Jesus; but the people of Jesus did not smite again. I'm thinking this was persecution and not a taking away of their freedoms. Personal insults, not forced tyranny. And thus they did dwindle in unbelief and wickedness, from year to year, even until two hundred and thirty years had passed away.
 35 And now it came to pass in this year, yea, in the two hundred and thirty and first year, there was a great division among the people. Just wondering if there are any parallels to our day here. It's been 201 years since the First Vision. Jesus may come in the 2031st year, when there will be literally a "great division" among the people. There is this prophecy about the 3 Nephites in our day: 3 Nephi 28:31 Therefore, great and marvelous works shall be wrought by them, the 3 Nephites before the ^agreat and coming day when all people must surely stand before the judgment-seat of Christ; 32 Yea even among the Gentiles shall there be a ^agreat and marvelous work wrought by them, before that judgment day. What will these "great and marvelous works be"? And will they be denied just like these miracles were denied by these people? 
 36 And it came to pass that in this year there arose a people who were called the ^aNephites, and they were true believers in Christ; in our day, this would be what Isaiah calls "the Remnant"? and among them there were those who were called by the Lamanites—Jacobites, and Josephites, and ^bZoramites;
 37 Therefore the true believers in Christ, and the true worshipers of Christ, (among whom were the ^athree disciples of Jesus who should tarry) were called Nephites, and Jacobites, and Josephites, and Zoramites. I think we will need to align ourselves with these 3 Nephites when they make their appearance on the scene. 
 38 And it came to pass that they who rejected the gospel Notice, in this context, where ALL were believers just a hundred years ago. All these people had descended from people who were truly converted and had the gospel taught to them. Seems like you have to have something first to reject it. were called Lamanites, and Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites; and they did not dwindle in ^aunbelief, but they did ^bwilfully rebel against the gospel of Christ; and they did teach their children that they should not believe, even as their fathers, from the beginning, did dwindle. It is one thing to not teach your children something you don't know about, but it is another to 'wilfully' teach them to NOT believe what their grandfathers believed or their cousins or their neighbors. Is it saying the first group willfully rebelled but the children of that group and those after could only "dwindle" and not "willfully rebel"?
 39 And it was because of the wickedness and abomination of their fathers, even as it was in the beginning. And they were ^ataught to hate the children of God, even as the Lamanites were taught to ^bhate the children of Nephi from the beginning. This sounds like a version of Critical Race Theory where they are taught to hate from the beginning. The new movie "The Oath" tries to portray this intense hatred for the Nephites.
 40 And it came to pass that two hundred and forty and four years had passed away, and thus were the affairs of the people. And the ^amore wicked part of the people did wax strong, and became exceedingly more numerous than were the people of God. A complete reversal. They went from ALL being righteous and converted to most of them NOT...
 41 And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves, and adorn them with all manner of precious things. And thus did two hundred and fifty years pass away, and also two hundred and sixty years.
 42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and ^acombinations of Gadianton.
 43 And also the people who were called the people of Nephi began to be proud in their hearts, because of their exceeding riches, and become ^avain like unto their brethren, the Lamanites.
 44 And from this time the disciples began to sorrow for the ^asins of the world. They were told they would not suffer except to "sorrow for the sins of the world". 
 45 And it came to pass that when three hundred years had passed away, both the people of Nephi and the Lamanites had become exceedingly wicked one like unto another.  Well, well, well...we went from ALL being righteous and converted at the beginning of this chapter to ALL being wicked at the end. Granted, it covers 300 years. Our country is only 245 years old and we are surely “as in the days of Noah”! Not looking good for mankind...
 46 And it came to pass that the robbers of ^aGadianton did spread over all the face of the land; and there were none that were righteous save it were the disciples of Jesus. Wow! None? And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did ^btraffic in all manner of traffic.
 47 And it came to pass that after three hundred and five years had passed away, (and the people did still remain in wickedness) ^aAmos died; and his brother, Ammaron, did keep the record in his stead. They must have been one of the disciples of Jesus.
 48 And it came to pass that when three hundred and twenty years had passed away, ^aAmmaron, being constrained by the Holy Ghost, did ^bhide up the records which were ^dsacred—yea, even all the sacred records which had been handed down from generation to generation, which were sacred—even until the three hundred and twentieth year from the coming of Christ.
 49 And he did hide them up unto the Lord, that they might ^acome again unto the remnant of the house of Jacob, according to the prophecies and the promises of the Lord. Here is another prophecy still to come, And thus is the end of the record of Ammaron.